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What is the correct interpretation of the Hadith: "The eye commits Zina (illegal sexual intercourse) by looking, and the mouth commits Zina by kissing"? And is what the questioner said true, that this Hadith is specific to a man kissing a woman, and that a man kissing another man with the intention of love is permissible?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Kissing or looking with lust is absolutely forbidden. However, without lust, there is no harm in it if it is for someone arriving from a journey or similar, provided it is not on the mouth, due to the ugliness and the suspicion of lust associated with that. It is obligatory to be cautious about attributing to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, what he did not say. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Indeed, Allah has decreed upon the son of Adam his share of adultery, which he will inevitably attain. The adultery of the eye is looking, the adultery of the tongue is speaking, the soul wishes and desires, and the private part confirms or denies all of that.” The adultery of the eye here is looking at what is not permissible for the observer.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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